On Friday, March 26, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, led by Partners Darrell Cochran and Kevin Hastings, reached an $8 million settlement between its client and Foss Home and Village (FHV), an assisted-living facility in Seattle, after an employee of the facility sexually abused PCVA’s client on numerous occasions.
The settlement is the result of a lawsuit filed by the court appointed guardian of the victim V.S., a female in her late 50s who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair. V.S. was a resident of FHV from September 10, 2018, to July 2, 2019. During that time, FHV employee Shimiyimana Hamzat sexually assaulted V.S. under the guise of providing care. Several instances of abuse were caught on video.
The original lawsuit was filed with the Superior Court of the State of Washington for King County in November 2019, several months after Hamzat was charged with two counts of rape in the second degree and one count of indecent liberties in July 2019. (Hamzat is currently awaiting trial.) Separate investigations by the Seattle Police Department, Adult Protective Services, Residential Care Services and FHV’s own investigation all concluded that the abuse occurred.
Additional media coverage on the settlement.
The Seattle Times, “Seattle nursing home settles sexual-assault lawsuit for $8 million”
Associated Press, “Seattle nursing home to pay $8M in sexual assault lawsuit”
The Chronicle, “Washington Nursing Home Settles Lawsuit for $8 Million After Worker Allegedly Raped Woman Repeatedly”
Q13 Fox Seattle, “Seattle nursing home to pay $8 million in sexual assault lawsuit”
Seattle Daily News, “Seattle nursing home settles sexual-assault lawsuit for $8 million”